"The last time I saw him was on Friday afternoon, June 30th, in
the cellars of the Chateau. He was gaily talking to his Officers
and giving them one or two final instructions. 'Have some tea of
dog biscuits and bully beef' he said to me just as I had finished
a wash. I said 'Good-bye' to him, and then crept along the dark
passage to the Chateau.
He was one of the real enthusiasts for war amongst us as a
regiment. Most people had joined because it was their duty--he
joined because he was a soldier by nature as well. If there was
to be a scrap he was sure to be in it. He wanted to go out before
the battalion on July 1st, but the C.O., of course, would not
hear of it.
At Armentières I was told that when the Corner Fort was bombarded
he was hit on his helmet by a huge piece of shell, but just
carried on. I feel certain he died in the forefront of the
battle, for his pluck was proverbial. "Whoever else gets the wind
up--Mack won't" I heard an Officer of the regiment say one day
during a bad spell in the trenches.
I do not believe he was afraid of death, and I am sure he fell as
far forward as the German leaden hail would let anyone get
alive."